Kick Off the Season with a Podium Finish at the ArMen

Mallorcan sailor Aina Bauza and French skipper Axelle Pillain have kicked off the Class 40 season with strength, achieving a commendable third place in the prestigious ArMen Race — a coastal regatta of approximately 300 nautical miles that circles the Ar Men lighthouse, passing Belle-Île and Île d’Yeu. This year’s edition already forecasted difficulties for the sailors, with light winds from the start, which forced the course to be shortened to 205 miles.

The duo crossed the finish line after 1 day, 18 hours, and 53 minutes of racing, finishing less than two minutes behind the second-place team in a tight and thrilling finish.

Bauza and Pillain led the fleet in the early stages of the race, but a calm just four hours after the start regrouped the boats and allowed five teams to overtake them. “It was a tough moment. The calms are always the hardest: you have to stay focused, keep your spirits up, and above all, never give up,” they explained after the race.

Far from giving up, the team steadily regained positions, one boat at a time, climbing back to the podium thanks to consistency and teamwork.

In this edition of the ArMen Race, Bauza and Pillain had onboard support from Estelle Greek and British sailor David Paul, who flew in specially from England to join the team.

This result marks the start of a racing season focused on the 2025 Transat Café L’Or, a double-handed transatlantic race departing from Le Havre on October 26.

With strong results and active communication, the team is now looking for a main sponsor to continue competing at the highest level. It’s the perfect time to join a thriving and results-driven project.